During the bitter winter of 1786-87; Daniel Shays; a modest farmer and Revolutionary War veteran; and his compatriot Luke Day led an unsuccessful armed rebellion against the state of Massachusetts. Their desperate struggle was fueled by the injustice of a regressive tax system and a conservative state government that seemed no better than British colonial rule. But despite the immediate failure of this local call-to-arms in the Massachusetts countryside; the event fundamentally altered the course of American history. Shays and his army of four thousand rebels so shocked the young nation's governing elite—even drawing the retired General George Washington back into the service of his country—that ultimately the Articles of Confederation were discarded in favor of a new constitution; the very document that has guided the nation for more than two hundred years; and brought closure to the American Revolution.The importance of Shays's Rebellion has never been fully appreciated; chiefly because Shays and his followers have always been viewed as a small group of poor farmers and debtors protesting local civil authority. In Shays's Rebellion: The American Revolution's Final Battle; Leonard Richards reveals that this perception is misleading; that the rebellion was much more widespread than previously thought; and that the participants and their supporters actually represented whole communities—the wealthy and the poor; the influential and the weak; even members of some of the best Massachusetts families.Through careful examination of contemporary records; including a long-neglected but invaluable list of the participants; Richards provides a clear picture of the insurgency; capturing the spirit of the rebellion; the reasons for the revolt; and its long-term impact on the participants; the state of Massachusetts; and the nation as a whole. Shays's Rebellion; though seemingly a local affair; was the revolution that gave rise to modern American democracy.
#77459 in Books Stackpole Books 2008-12-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .81 x 6.00l; 1.18 #File Name: 0811735524336 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. This is not only a great historical referenceBy LtCol ret E. Kennedy; Jr.It's hard to "mess up" a translated manual. However; this is a timeless work that accurately reflects how the German Army viewed modern war and influence not only operations in WWII; but in the Cold War Bundeswehr as well. This is not only a great historical reference; but one that is useful for modern soldiers and their study of "mission command".2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. On The German Art of WarBy Gary R. CochraneThe Art of War describes how both sides in a battle will try to exert their efforts to bring about victory; while using less resources and time than might have otherwise been the case. What is included in the German Art of War is the philosophy of the Schwerpunkt; where concentrations of weapons in time and space will yield superior firepower in that location. This would come to be known in the West as Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) and would be the blueprint used by the German Wehrmacht (Armed Forces) to overcome with some ease a multitude of developed European countries. High-ranking Heer (Army) officers had to be educated in the new tactics by proponents such as Heinz Guderian and Erwin Rommel; with not a few heated exchanges in the process. On the German Art of War is essential reading for anyone interested in learning more about WWII; especially from the German perspective.18 of 20 people found the following review helpful. The German Art Of WarBy Robert C. DayFirst of all it must be stated that this book has been written for people who have some appreciation of all of the various activities; tennets; philosophy and the development of a cohesive; comprehensive doctrine that supports the manner in which a Military Force understands its tasks; duties and actions; it is incredibly detailed. This translation ranks among the very best that I have seen. What makes it really standout is the scholarship that points out the use of German doctrine by other nations. The authors even describe how militaries attempted to apply German doctrine without fully understanding their concept of the operation under study. One should remember; however; that this document was first written in 1933 and updated before the start of WWII. So there are some references to horsed cavalry etc. It is a book that every student of military history should have on his bookcase.
